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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 120 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: key · current · pitcher · wax · land · fine · saw · temple

  1. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. When are we going to ________________?
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. key — in music
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. current — electric
  5. key — for a lock
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. saw — the tool
  8. land — ground
  9. wax — to grow
  10. fine — all right
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. land — a country
  16. current — happening now
  17. fine — high quality
  18. key — the most important part
  19. land — to come down
  20. current — of water
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. pitcher — a jug

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com